Hatch construction for railway car roofs



June 3, 1947.

J. S. SWANN HATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CAR ROOFS Filed Oct. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I I I l l I I I l I l I I I I I I l I l I I l l l I I I I l I I I I l l I INVENTOR. Jam 5 51007272,

June 3, 1947. v .1. s. SWANN HATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CAR ROOFS Filed Oct. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jameefiwarzrz, BY

lins extending between and secured to the carlines 4 (see Figure 7) so that the spaces between the carlines 4 and each pair of purlins 5 form an opening I between which the hatch frames 8 are installed and secured to respective carlines and purlins. These openings 1 are usually spaced on opposite sides of the middle longitudinal line 9 of the car. Each carline 4 and also preferably each purlin 5 comprises a. vertical web I2 land inwardly projecting upper horizontal flange l3 and outwardly projecting lower horizontal flange I4. The carline 4 also preferably has an inwardly projecting lower flange l5 which may be provided by the use of a T section with the upper portion thereof bent inwardly, as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows a modified carline l8 which comprises a web l9 and upper inwardly project- 4 of the car to reinforce the upper part of the carlines, either in tension or compression.

The main roof sheets 24 are welded to the carlines and preferably also welded (43) directly to the upper roof sheets 32 and also welded (4|) to both hatch frames 8 and also welded (42) to both end roof sheets 34 so that the main roof sheet 24, upper roof sheet 32, end roof sheets 34 and batch frames 8 form an integral panel between the opposite side walls 3 of the car to provide a beam therebetween which could be figured independently of the carlines. However, I preferably also weld these elements to the canine so that the afore-described panel cooperates with the carlines (individually and collectively) to ing flange and a lower outwardly projecting 1 flange 2|. In this modification the main roof sheet 26 is provided with a flange 21 which is welded directly to the carline l8 at28, I V

If the hatch frame 8 is made strong enough to form a brace between the carlines the purlins 5 may be eliminated.

The main roof sheets 24 which extend between th opposite side walls 3 of. the car have one margin. thereof resting upon the lower flange Id of the adjacent carline. Thesemain roof sheets 24 are also preferably provided with an upstanding flange 38 which is provided with a re-flange 3| which overlaps the upper flange l3 of the car-line.

The upper roof sheet 32 extends between the two hatch frames 8-43 (Figure 2). (or. between the purlin if used) and also extend between the carlines 4 and aresecured thereto. v (See Figre 4-) 'Eachend' roof sheet 34 extends between the outer hatch frame 8 (or the outer purlin if used) to adjacent the side wall 3 of the car. (Figure 2'.) Each end roof sheet 34 also-extends between the carlines and is secured thereto. (Figure 6.)

Each hatch fname 8 comprises a substantially rectangular frame having an upper substantially.

horizontal longitudinal portion 36 adjacent each carline substantially in the plane of the upper roof sheet 32; that is, in the plane of the u pe parts of the carlines. v

'As stated before, the'carlines are beams extending "between opposite walls of the car and when the side walls tend to spread apart the upper part of the beam is under compression stress and the lower part thereof is under tension stress. However, when the side walls tend to approach each other or come together, the lower part of the carline' is under compression stress and the upper part thereof is under tension stress. As my improved hatch construction may be subjected to either one of these forms of stresses, I have claimed that my construction strengthens the carline in beam action) "by which I mean that the beam is strengthened so that both upper parts and lower parts thereof are better-able to resist either compression stress or tensional stresses. V

The upper roof sheet 32 extends between and is welded (31) directly to each hatch frame 8 (or welded to the purlins which in turn are welded to the hatch frame) (see Figure 2) and each end roof sheet 34 is welded (38) to the adjacent hatch frame 8 (or the purlin which in turn is welded tothe end roof sheet) so that the upperf-roof sheet 32, both hatch frames 8 and bothiend roof sheets 34 form a continuous in tegral member between the opposite side walls 3 struction.

It, will benoted that the main roof sheets 24 (-and 26) arein the plane of the lower parts of th carlines so as to strengthen the lower parts of thecarlineseither in compression or tension;

' i. e, in beam action.

the exact details of construction shown de scribed, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims-will occurto persons skilled in the art. F i

1. A hatch'construction'for' a railway car hav: ing spaced walls, said construction comprising spaced carlines adapted to extend between and be secured to said walls, a hatch frame--remotefrom each carwall which is'positioned between; and secured to both of the carlines; an upper roofsheet positioned in the planeof the upper parts of the-carlines extending-between and secured to said hatch frames and extending between-and secured to said carlines, and an end roof'sheet positionedin theplane of the upper parts of the carlines extending between each hatch frame and the adjacent Wall and secured thereto-andextending between and secured to thecarlines, whereby the upper roof sheet, the *end roof-sheets and the hatch frames cooperate to-form acc itinuousintegral member between the walls of the car to strengthen the upper parts 'of the carlines in beamaction; 7

2. A hatch construction for a railway; car hav ing spaced walls; saidconstruction comprising spaced carlines adapted to extend between and be secured to said walls, a hatchzframereniote from each car'wall' which is positioned between and secured to both of the carlines, an upper "ro'of sheet positioned in the plane of the upper'parts of the carlines extending betweenands'ecured to said hatch frames and extending" betweeh' said carlines, an end'roof sheet positioned in the plane of the upper parts of the carlins extending between each hatch frameland' the adjacent Wall and secured thereto and extending-between the carlines, and main roofsheet s' positiondifitlie plane of the lower parts of the carlines and welded material securing said upper roof sheet, said end roof sheets, respectiveli'to Seaman roof sheets, whereby the upper roof sheet the e nd, roof sheets. the" mai rob; sheets a id: th hatch frames cooperate to form a continuous: integral member between the wallsofjthe carg R m 35 A Structure sid l ned- 2 main roof sheet extendingbetween the wallspf h car. e aeea iaee the 9m: pants tth carline and secured thereto to strengthen the i lower parts of the carlines in beam action.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each carline is provided with an outwardly projecting flange adjacent the lower part thereof to 5 support the margins of adjacent main roof sheets, 10

and an inwardly projecting flange adjacent the lower part thereof to support insulating material between each carline and the hatch frame.

JAMES S. SWANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,239,037 Finger "d Apr. 22, 1941 2,034,376 Bonsall Mar. 1'7, 1936 

